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Sequin Photobooth DIY

Happy New Year!  I had ordered these giant sequins a while ago and thought New Years Eve was the perfect occasion to make something with them. It looks so glamourous in our living room that I think I’m going to throw a last minute New Years Eve Party. I think this sequin wall would work great as a photobooth backdrop but besides that it could be cool decorations for a party or wedding. I even started to joke with Paul how I wanted to do a permanent wall of it in our art studio. It’s pretty hard to be in a bad mood in the presence of so many sparklies!

We used giant 60 mm sequins (sometimes called pailletes) for this wall and needed about 600. You could use smaller or bigger of course. I think smaller would be even cooler but would take a lot longer. You just have to figure out the square footage you want to cover and do the math to make sure you order enough sequins. (My 8th Grade math teacher was right, I do need to know math for my job. You were right this once Mr. Prince!) This project is actually pretty easy but of course goes faster and better with helpers. It took us two hours with two people working on it (thanks Audrey!)

 

Materials Needed:
600 Sequins 60 mm in diameter
6 pieces of large and thin FoamBoard 1/8″ thick,  32″x 40″ wide
2 Rolls of Gold cheap wrapping paper to cover the foamboard.
Good Masking Tape (that comes off the walls easy)
600+ Sequin Pins (these are just really short straight pins, you need one for every sequin)
Ruler
A long piece of posterboard to make a guide

Step 1. Attaching the Foam board. Tape Foam Board to the wall. We do this so that there aren’t a million holes in your wall when the party is over.  Stack them from the floor up so the tape doesn’t have to carry the weight. It will just hold them in place. The masking tape will be gentle on your walls when you need to remove it.
Step 2. Taping the Paper. Tape the wrapping paper on top of the foam board. Don’t worry too much about seams as they aren’t noticeable once you hang your sequins.
Step 3. First Row of Sequins. Start at the bottom of the wall. Depending how far down you want your camera to capture measure out your first row of pins. I started in the middle and after experimenting with the sequins I figured I liked the pins 2.5″ apart. I measured up from the floor on each side and then held up a ruler while someone else placed a pin in a straight line every 2.5″ apart.
Step 4. Second Row of Sequins. For the second row I experimented with the spacing and decided how far apart the rows of pins should be. I staggered the sequins so they nestled in between the sequins on the first row so the maximum amount of wall would be covered. I measured up from the floor on each side and then held the ruler between the two points while someone placed the second row of pins.
Step 5. Make a Guide. You only need to measure well on the first two rows, from there make a guide so that the process can go much quicker. Get a piece of long poster board and cut it the exact distance between the first row of pins and the second row of pins. Using the ruler make a pencil mark every 2.5″ on one side of the guide. Make a few marks on the other side to line up to the pins that are already in place.

Step 6. Pin ’em! Once you have your guide you can just place it on top of the second row of pins and you’ll know exactly where to place your pins. It’s good to try to be accurate on the first few steps but once you get the pins going pretty straight you can’t really go wrong. The sequins are very forgiving and generously cover up any flaws. Try to make the pins parallel to the floor and not tilted up so that the sequins can dangle and dance when someone walks by. If they are at an angle they will stay against the wall with little movement.
Step 7. Place a sequin on each pin hanging it towards the front of the pin for maximum shininess and sparkles. Et voilà You’re done! Happy New Years guys!

Thanks MegAnne for being my models!

  1. Jennifer

    December 29, 2011

    Beautiful photo booth idea!

  2. Corrie Anne

    December 29, 2011

    Ooooo! I love all things sequin. So gorgeous!

  3. Kersey

    December 29, 2011

    This is perfect. It turned out beautifully, per usual!

  4. Roshni

    December 29, 2011

    Oh my goodness I can’t wait to try this!

  5. The New Diplomats Wife

    December 29, 2011

    wow. just wow.

  6. Becky

    December 29, 2011

    So fantastic! Don’t know if I can get those massive sequins in time where I live (rural Hawaii!) but I am definitely saving this idea for a future soiree! Thank you.

  7. Mila

    December 29, 2011

    PRETTY!
    I love it.

  8. Lottie Fowler

    December 29, 2011

    Love this! Too cute!

  9. debbie

    December 29, 2011

    oh this is so neat!

  10. Prêt à Voyager

    December 29, 2011

    I love the little reflections in each sequin!

    Anne

    p.s. I need a tan 😉

  11. Marie

    December 29, 2011

    That takes some patience to pin up all 600 sequins! Looks great…what a fun idea! 🙂

    http://www.happypaperplace.com/

  12. rachael

    December 29, 2011

    i LOVE this.

  13. tara

    December 29, 2011

    my gosh, now that is truly the very definition of happy. so great.a

  14. angie

    December 29, 2011

    LOVE it! I think they would be great to string in front of my window to bring in the light. Thanks for sharing and happiest new year everyone! *a

  15. Julie Hardee

    December 29, 2011

    Fuck the foam board, you need to keep this up FOREVER

  16. jan

    December 29, 2011

    Awesome Jordan – you’re amazing! Happy New Year!

  17. Marty

    December 29, 2011

    Wonderful idea and love your models!

  18. valerie

    December 29, 2011

    OMG so cute! But so r those dresses! can u tell me more about them? They look vintage is there a shop they recommend?

  19. katie evans!

    December 29, 2011

    amazzzzzzing! we’re still deciding if we want a classic photobooth or make our own. i love this idea for a back drop.

  20. katie evans!

    December 29, 2011

    still deciding for our wedding***

  21. Jesyka

    December 29, 2011

    Love this!! Such a good idea.

  22. Anni

    December 29, 2011

    This is freaking amazing. I now have about 10 ideas for our wedding photo booth. This one might just be winning…

  23. Brit Tucker Stewart

    December 29, 2011

    Love this!

  24. Rebecca - A Daily Something

    December 29, 2011

    Wow, this is so amazing and well done!!!!

  25. Jess (Where My Heart Is)

    December 29, 2011

    Love, love, love!!!

  26. Susan

    December 29, 2011

    So much fun!!

  27. Sara Gray @ MarryThis!

    December 29, 2011

    Wow — that’s such a stunning backdrop! I love it.

  28. Marjorie @ One Parade

    December 29, 2011

    I absolutely love this idea. If only I had the time and patience!

  29. canvasofculture

    December 29, 2011

    great idea! looks like lots of fun:)

    http://canvasofculture.blogspot.com/

  30. megan

    December 29, 2011

    first, love the idea.

    second, i thought the model on the left was you and that i was going insane wondering how the picture of you i had in my mind has been so wrong all this time. 🙂 funny.

  31. creativeholly

    December 30, 2011

    my husband always stares at the shiny sequin wall at sfo as it shimmers in the foggy air. i didn’t know you could order the sequins and pins! this is definitely going up in my baby’s first room. THANK YOU!

  32. Aim

    December 30, 2011

    Love, love, love the final output! This shall be a good idea for my client’s photo-booth area! Cheers. 🙂

  33. Nastya

    December 30, 2011

    Excellent photos!

  34. Daniela

    December 30, 2011

    This is so awesome! I wish I weren’t moving New Years weekend or else I would totally do this!

    thisshack.blogspot.com

  35. Sarah Park @ Sweetbox

    December 30, 2011

    Your work is always so inspiring! Happy New Year 🙂
    I hope 2012 brings you more creative ideas and happiness! Looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us next year!!

    Love,
    Sarah

  36. Ashley

    December 30, 2011

    So fun!! Can’t wait to try this – thanks so much!

  37. Smellyann

    December 30, 2011

    This is too cool! Love it!

  38. Julie Rose Sews

    December 30, 2011

    I love this! You have the best ideas for non-damaging wall coverings. How fun would it be to have a wall of sequins in the bathroom? Candlelight flickering, and taking a bath with a good book– yes please!

  39. sarah

    December 30, 2011

    Trop sympa! Love it 🙂

  40. colleen

    December 30, 2011

    Looks just like the walls at Kate Spade stores! Really cute.

  41. Jessica Lauren

    December 30, 2011

    This makes me smile! How can you stand in a room with a wall of giant sequins and not be instantly happy!? Thanks for sharing!

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